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Red-hot Lady Tigers throttle Chicks, Lady Houns', extend win streak to five
A recent three-game losing skid is ancient history, as the Nevada Lady Tiger softball team has flipped the script with their current five-game win streak.
The Lady Tigers emerged from a recent rough-patch two games under .500. A pair of convincing run-rule victories over the Pleasant Hill Chicks and Aurora Lady Houns' have upped Nevada's record to 11-8 overall and 6-3 in Big 8 Conference-play.
The Lady Tigers opened the week Monday with a 17-11 non-conference road victory over Pleasant Hill.
Nevada then returned to the diamond, easily dispatching conference foe Aurora Houn' Dogs, 11-1, on Senior Day Tuesday at Bushwhacker Field.
Against Pleasant Hill Nevada pounded out 17 hits. The Lady Tigers plated five runs in the first, and then detonated for six in the third. After scratching across a run in the fourth, Nevada led 12-0.
Pleasant Hill didn't go quietly, as the Chicks replied with a four-run fourth. The Lady Tigers then struck back with a pair of runs in the fifth. After holding the Chicks in check in the home-half of the fifth, the contest concluded in run-rule fashion.
All nine Nevada batters collected at least one hit — while Maggie Leisure, Bailey Ast, Kirstin Buck, Claire Pritchett, and Maleigha Hinton notched multi-hit performances.
Nevada head coach Danny Penn said he was thrilled with his club's approach at the plate. At the top of the order for Nevada, Leisure opened the contest with a long at-bat that eventually resulted in a double off the center field wall. Bailey Ast followed with a sharply hit run-scoring single up the middle.
"And we were off," said an elated Penn. "We put together a lot of good at-bats in the first, and were even productive with our outs. We ran the bases aggressively, and forced them to throw us out."
Penn added that he was pleased with the hustle and heads-up play displayed by his squad.
"Kirstin scored from second on a fly ball to center field, by running hard the whole way," said the first-year Lady Tiger head coach."
Said Penn of Nevada's 17-hit day: "I thought we sprayed the ball all over the field, we weren't pull-happy or anything. Our offense was swinging it this way about a month ago. It's nice to see the whole lineup swing it this well in a single game."
In the circle for Nevada Abby Harder spun a complete-game victory — fanning two and walking none over five frames of work.
"Abby did a great job of attacking the strike zone," Penn said. "She threw first-pitch strikes to 23 of the 28 batters she faced. She wasn't trying to nibble, she trusted her stuff and let her defense work behind her."
Summed up Penn: "We only committed one error tonight, which unfortunately led to three unearned runs. However, I was proud because the same player ended up turning an unassisted double-play to end the game, showing she was able to flush one mistake and make a great play."
Senior Day
The scorching hot Lady Tigers returned to the diamond the following day to face visiting Aurora Lady Houns' on Senior Day.
For a second consecutive contest Nevada tore the cover off the ball, again producing 17 hits in a second consecutive run-rule victory.
Nevada was led by sophomore Claire Pritchett's 4-for-5 four RBI effort, in the 11-1, six inning triumph — which included a pair of hard-hit doubles.
Nevada also received three-hit performances from seniors Leisure and Madison Hyder. In addition, senior Hailee Lundine chipped in a pair of hits while driving in two.
Leisure also provided a lift for Nevada via her sparkling performance in the circle — allowing no runs, while scattering four hits over five innings of work. The pitching victory ups Leisure's record to 5-1.
"This was a continuation of last night's game," Penn noted. "We put together good plate appearances. Second game in a row with 17 hits, hit a lot of balls hard right at people — so potentially could have been 20 or 21 hits."
Penn continued: "Defensively, made plays in the field, we were clean. Maggie worked ahead, was down in the zone and induced a lot of ground balls. Just a good recipe (for winning)."
Penn attributed his club's turnaround to perseverance.
"The girls have kept working," he said. "It's easy to keep working when things are going really well. But when things are not going as well, and you're struggling, it's easy to say 'I'm tired — I don't want to work.' Credit to the girls today, not just the nine in the field, but our entire team has kept working and looking for ways they can improve. And they're seeing all of that extra work paying off these last two games."
Penn added that a stretch of ridged competition during the middle portion of their schedule "sharpened" his squad.
"So, whenever we see, maybe, a little lesser competition — we know we can handle it, we're confident and we're aggressive," he said. "Today we were confident and aggressive at the plate and on the bases, and ready to be successful."
Said Penn of his senior trio: "All three had good games today, both offensively and defensively. I'm proud of them as a coach, because I know Senior Day is something they're going to remember for a long time."
UP NEXT
Nevada returns to the diamond today for a home make-up date with visiting Carl Junction at 4:30 p.m.